International Press Circle

The International Press Circle is the exclusive media kick-off event for InnoTrans. Here you will have the opportunity to meet important figures from national and international railway industry associations in person and to exchange ideas directly with them over a networking brunch.

This year’s International Press Circle, featuring the World Innovation Press Tour, will take place on Monday, 21 September 2026.

11.00 am Welcome address by Dirk Hoffmann, COO of Messe Berlin, and the founding associations of InnoTrans (VDB, UNIFE, VDV, ZVEI and DVF)

11.20 am Networking brunch

12.00 pm World Innovation Tour

Participating Associations:

AIF (Association des Industries Ferroviaires des Hauts-de-France): Étienne Piganeau, Chairman of the Association of Railway Industries
ALAF (Asociación Latinoamericana de Ferrocarriles): Victor Colombano, Administrative and International Relations Secretary
CAMET (Chinese Association of Metros): Li Yuansheng, Deputy Secretary-General
DVF (Deutsches Verkehrsforum e. V.): Dr. Heide van Hoorn, Managing Director
Ferrovia (Portuguese Railway Platform Cluster): Paulo Duarte, Executive Director
International Monorail Association: Marko Krönke, President
MAFEX (Spanish Railway Association): Pedro Fortea, General Director
RIA (Railway Industry Association): Neil Walker, Exports Director
Swissrail: Alexandra Beck, Lead Public Relations
UNIFE (European Union Agency for Railways): Enno Wiebe, General Director
VDB (Verband der Bahnindustrie in Deutschland e.V.): Sarah Stark, Managing Director
VDV (Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen e.V.): Martin Schmitz, Managing Director, Technology
ZVEI (Verband der Elektro- und Digitalindustrie e.V.): Azar Mottale, Head of Mobility